Injury bug bites CHL Top Prospects Game

Some of the Canadian Hockey League’s brightest stars will shine in the annual Top Prospects Game, celebrating the top draft-eligible talent from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

But not all.

While it’s easy to get excited at the prospect of 40 of the CHL’s best talent eligible to be selected in June, the fact of the matter is that 25 per cent of them are missing. Headlined by Nail Yakupov, 10 prospects will be missing from the event due to injury. That includes five of Future Considerations’ top 10 ranked prospects from January and nine of the top 30.

Defensemen Morgan Rielly and Slater Koekkoek and forward Matia Marcantuoni are all expected to be out for the duration of the season, will not play in the game. Alex Galchenyuk, who was originally projected to be lost for the season, may return to Yakupov’s Sarnia Sting in March.

Olli Maatta and Cody Ceci, also blueliners, will miss the event. Forwards Charles Hudon and Jarred Maidens will also miss the game.

Belleville Bulls goaltender Malcolm Subban, who is expected to return to the lineup soon, will also miss the game while he recovers from a groin injury.